10 Patriotic Songs that Celebrate the Strength of India

Why are patriotic songs so special?

Well, first answer this - how many times in a day do we remember our motherland? Maybe not even once. Most of us take her for granted just like our own mother.

But every time, an Indian wins a gold at an international sports event. That feeling when India’s flag slowly rises above all other countries with our National anthem playing in the background. The world bows down to the Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka - that’s India. Our chests swell with pride.

Yes, we might not say it but India is at the core of our existence. No matter where we live - in India or any other part of the world, our love for our motherland stays ablaze in our hearts.

Here is a list of patriotic songs of India that give you the same feeling.

10 Patriotic Songs that Celebrate the Winner’s Spirit of India

1. O Desh Mere 

2. Chakh de India

3. Jai Ho

4. Aye Watan Watan Mere

5. Rang De Basanti

6. Shabashiyan

7. Lehra Do

8. Salam India 

9. Tere Mitti

10. Mile Sur Mera Tumhara

1. O Desh Mere Tere Shaan Pe Sadke

True it is. Nothing is higher than the pride of our homeland. 

And as the following words of the song roll out - ‘Tere dhoop se roshan, tere hawa se zinda. Tu baag hai mera, main tera parinda’ - it sums up everything. 

Worded by Manoj Muntashir and music composed by Arko, this patriotic song featured in the 2020 Bollywood movie - Bhuj The Pride of India. The voice of Arijit Singh makes this track timeless.

The movie is a tribute to the unsung heroes of the 1971 war and their remarkable contribution to the nation's defense.

2. Chak De India

‘Chak de’ - Go for it - an immediate call to action to achieve something. That do-or-die spirit that every Indian wake up to after getting a hard reality check.

The title track of the 2007 Bollywood blockbuster Chakh De India is a perfect example. It’s lyrics were written by Jaideep Sahni, weaved into music by Salim–Sulaiman and sung by Shukhvinder Singh. 

The movie was inspired by the true story of Mir Ranjan Negi, a former Indian hockey goalkeeper. Negi was the goalkeeper for the Indian national team during the 1982 Asian Games, where India suffered a humiliating defeat to Pakistan. This loss led to public criticism and accusations against Negi, which deeply affected him.

Years later, Negi returned to the hockey world as a coach and played a significant role in helping the Indian women's hockey team win the gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. 

3. Jai Ho

The victory song of an underdog - ‘Jai ho’ from the film Slumdog Millionnaire had put India on the global map. This song gathered accolades at six international award functions including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes,, Bafta, Grammy Awards, Critics Choise Movie Awards, and World Soundtrack Awards.

‘Jai ho’ was worded by Gulzar, music composed by A R Rahman, and sung by Sukhwinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer, and Vijay Prakash.

The storyline revolves around Jamal Malik, who overcomes numerous challenges to win on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and reunite with his lost love.

Amid all the social, political, and professional curve balls that most Indians deal with every day - such movies and a song like ‘Jai ho’ acts like a ray of hope. Wouldn’t you agree?

4. Aye Watan Watan Mere 

‘Raazi’ - a story about two individuals whose love for their motherland had to surpass their fidelity and love for each other as a married couple.

"Aye Watan, Watan Mere" plays at critical moments in Raazi, highlighting the protagonist Sehmat Khan's (played by Alia Bhatt) unwavering commitment to her mission and her love for her country, India.

The song features twice in the movie - sung individually by Arijit Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan.

The male version is played when Sehmat is training to become a spy, symbolizing her preparation to serve her nation.

The female version plays during an emotional scene where Sehmat reflects on the sacrifices she must make for her country.

The soulful words of this song were penned by none other than Gulzar and the music was composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy.

5. Rang De Basanti

The opening words of the song - ‘Thodi si dhool meri dharti ki mere watan ki’. Yes, for a true patriot, the soil of the motherland is priceless.

This song is a powerful fusion of contemporary rock and traditional Punjabi folk music. The lyrics are written by Prasoon Joshi and the music is composed by A R Rahman. Daler Mehndi's robust and energetic voice, combined with Chitra's hauntingly beautiful backing vocals, added depth and intensity to the track, making it one of the standout songsof the film.

Above all, it brings out the true essence of patriotism as it holds for the young India.

The young India - that is secure, carefree, full of life, and yet ready to take charge and bring about change.

6. Shabashiyan

Accolades! Well Done! Well Deserved! Once again, a victory song from a movie based on a true incident. Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan was a truly groundbreaking success of a team of scientists at ISRO. 

The song is featured during the climax of the movie Mission Mangal, when the Mars Orbiter Mission successfully enters Mars' orbit. The lyrics of "Shabaashiyaan" are penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, who beautifully captures the essence of celebration and recognition. The lyrics speak of the joy of achieving something great after relentless effort and the pride that comes with overcoming challenges. 

The triumphant melody of this song is rendered by music composer Amil Trivedi. Vocalists - Shilpa Rao, Anand Bhaskar, and Abhijeet Srivastava breathe life into this creation.

The song starts on a somewhat restrained note but gradually gains momentum, leading to a powerful, emotionally charged climax. It somewhat mirrored the narrative arc of the film, where the characters face challenges but ultimately triumph, making the song not just an auditory experience but an emotional journey.

7. Lehra Do

The film ‘83’’ - recreated the moment of India’s first victory at Cricket World Cup 1983. ‘The song ’Leh’ra Do’ plays in the background during the film’s climax scene when the world welcomes the new and emerging world champion - India.

It was a proud moment for Indians and this song resonates with the sentiment effectively. The lyrics by Kausar Munir are heartfelt and poignant, expressing a deep connection to the country and the dream of victory.

The song is composed by Pritam, who has crafted a melody that is both uplifting and evocative. The music builds gradually, starting with a subdued tone that reflects the initial struggles, and then rising to a powerful crescendo as the team inches closer to victory.

The orchestration includes a blend of traditional and modern elements, with strong percussion and string arrangements that heighten the emotional impact. Arijit Singh’s soulful voice brings the lyrics to life, conveying the depth of emotion and the fervor of the moment.

8. Hai Tujhe Salam India

Hail the indomitable! Salute to the non-conformist! Victory to the Mother!

The phrase - ‘’Victory to the Mother’is mostly used for India as our motherland. But this song goes out to all the mothers who try to make a mark in their careers after fulfilling all their family responsibilities.

Just before the song starts, the boxing coach played by Sunil Thapa tenderly lifts the twins and ties them tightly on the two shoulders of their mother - Mary Kom (essayed by Priyanka Chopra).

This emotionally charged scene is followed by the lyrics - 

‘’Jhuke tere aage sar, 

Teri godh mera ghar

Hai tujhe Salaam India!’’

Need we say more?

The credits for this song go to composer Shivam, lyricist Sandeep Singh, and singers Vishal Dadlani and Salim Merchant.

9. Tere Mitti

A pledge to sacrifice for the motherland - so candidly woven into the lyrics of the song ‘’Tere Mitti Mein Mil Jana, Gul Banke Mein Khil Jana, Itni Si Hai Dil Ki Aarzoo’’.

"Tere Mitti" is a soulful and emotional patriotic song from the 2019 Bollywood movie Kesari. The film is based on the true story of the Battle of Saragarhi, where 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army fought bravely against thousands of Afghan invaders.

The lyrics evoke a sense of patriotism, honor, and the bittersweet pride of a soldier's duty. The lyrics by Manoj Muntashir are beautifully crafted to express the pure, selfless love a soldier has for his country. Arko Pravo Mukherjee's composition is simple yet profound. The song is brought to life by the poignant rendition of B Praak.  

10. Mile Sur Mera Tumhara

‘’United we stand as Indian and we will always do. In our diverse language, cultures, food, and clothing - we come together to make a complete whole. That is India.'

No other song has ever been able to convey this sentiment as impactfully as this song. "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" is not just a song; it is a cultural artifact that embodies the spirit of India.

The music for "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" was composed by Ashok Patki, a well-known music composer in India.

The Hindi lyrics were penned by Piyush Pandey, who later became one of India's most renowned advertising professionals. The song also includes lyrics in various regional languages.

The original version of the song features a wide range of Indian playback singers and classical vocalists, including Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Bhimsen Joshi, M. Balamuralikrishna, and others. Each singer represents a different region and language of India.

The music video for "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" features a variety of prominent Indian personalities from different fields, including music, cinema, sports, and politics.

There have been several attempts and versions of this song but the magic could not be recreated. The music, a simple couplet of this song remains etched deep in our memory and it will always be.

But, We Must Never Forget…

Patriotic songs of India are motivating, soul-stirring, blood-curdling, and much more. They charge us emotionally. All that is good to feel for a while. But what we must never forget is that most of us have never been in those moments.

Most of us don’t know what ‘Talwaron Pe Sar Var Diye, Angaaron Pe Jism Jalaya Hai’ really means. Is it as easy to live up to the pledge as it is spoken - ‘’Jeene Ki Izazat Dede, Ya Hukum Shahadat Dede, Manjoor Humein Jo Bhi Tu Chune.’’

Yet indeed, some of us choose this path so that the rest of us remain safe. For this - gratitude, remembrance, and respect are mere words.

We all have a role to play and we should take charge.

Pick up your torch now and lead the path for others with light. And if music or any other art form is your torch, find it here on ipassio.